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Monday, January 31, 2011

DAY 18…Blog for the day is posted…Shower is completed…skipping Dinner tonight…being safe and secure for the night in mid-town Long Beach, Washington, I would usually slip into the feathers and read from my new Kindle…but …

I been thinking about that herd of Elk we came across today.

All my life I have been an avid fisherman and hunter. From 9 years old, I had my own shotgun and rifle to hunt pheasant, quail, deer and elk…not to mention fishing equipment for Bass, Perch, Salmon, Halibut, and Trout.

I have also been asked what I think about out there walking alone for hour after hour.

Today, it was the Elk. When was the last time I hunted. What caused the “last time” to be the last time…

We have a non-native Mule Deer over in those trees – pointing – which has been badly wounded by a hunter who shot him full in the face and front quarters with bird shot.He is badly wounded and not trustworthy to be loose.

You have any slugs (solid bullets) for your 20 gauge?

Yes, but not with me…back home in Bayview, about 20 minutes away.

Do you have time to drive & get your “slug” load?

Yes, and I can bring my Dad, two Brothers and an Uncle, who all have deer rifles.

Great…If you will do that, perhaps we can all together find and put that deer down.

So, I drive back home and we all arrive back at the waiting Game Warden.

OK, folks…lets line up about 100 feet apart forming a line along this road…the wounded 2-point is in that grove of trees.

We all line up…me in the center of the line as we walk together off the road into the trees…the Game Warden staying on the road watching over us.

Not 100 feet off the road, I come face to face with a big Buck Deer, large Antlers with two points on each side of his rack…He stands facing me. I stop..Raise my Shotgun…

He lets out a squeal, pivots and takes a leap directly away from me.

I fire

He leaps a second time…bounds really, like only a deer does, as my slug leaves my gun.

He is in mid leap, staggers in mid air, and does a forward summer salt and slides to a halt not 50 feet from me…He does not move.

I run up to him…stopping 15 feet short…he is still breathing and trying to get up. His front legs lift him up, but his hind legs lie limp. My slug has hit his spine…he is paralyzed.

I slowly walk up to him…he suddenly rises up onto his front legs, lowers his head and charges me, dragging his hind quarters.

I am now only 10 feet away and pump another shell into the chamber of my 20 gauge.

IT JAMS

The deer is upon me, trying to slash me with his sharp front hoofs…

I drop my shotgun just as he raises his head trying to gore me with his antlers.

I grab both sides of his rack, and twist his head as hard as I can…

He jabs at me with his feet, and I flip him on his side, throwing my right leg over his back and getting a scissor lock around his neck in front of his thrashing front legs.

I’m now holding his antlers with my left hand and sitting on his neck, all his weight on my left leg under him…I reach for my hunting knife on my belt…find it…unsnap the flap…and jerk it from the scabbard.

The deer is in a panic…he is thrashing his legs and jerking his head…I nearly lose my grip on his horns.

I reach my right hand under his neck…find his throat, and pull my knife straight up into his throat, twisting and pulling until I feel his hot blood spurting on my hand…

He gives a very loud squeal and stiffens under me.

I hold my knife deep into his throat…he relaxes…I let go the knife and grab his right antler with my right hand.

He is shuddering under me. I lean my head forward between his horns, resting my chin on his forehead and start talking to him….

I apologize…I whisper into his face…his eyes roll up to look at me…our eyes are nearly touching…I keep talking to him…

I tell him I do not want to do this to him…I am so very sorry…

I release my left hand from his antler…my head still between them resting above his eyes…

I slowly caress below his left eye and down his muzzle, ending under his mouth, holding his chin in my palm…I still whisper to him all the while.

His eyes roll up to look directly into mine.

His eyes fill with tears

I keep whispering to him and caressing him under his chin.

The Game Warden arrives as the deer, tears falling from his eyes, takes a long sigh

And goes still

My last shot EVER was fired that day

That brave deer has not been forgotten

I have shed many a tear in remembering our last embrace.

Today, walking to Key West, I shed more than a few tears for that deer I killed over 50 years ago.

I have come to understand the preciousness of the spark of life.

I never again want to extinguish that spark.

This is a true story...perhaps it was my Uncle B. who was there that day...

WILLAPA BAY...A "FLAT" CLAY-SAND SHALLOW BODY OF WATER DEDICATED IN A REALLY BIG WAY TO THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.

A STEAM ENGINE "DONKEY ENGINE" WITH WINCHES...USED IN EONS PAST TO DRAG CUT TIMBER OUT OF THE WOODS. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ONE

COURT HOUSE IN SOUTH BEND, WASHINGTON, SOME 5 MILES SOUTH ON US 101 FROM RAYMOND...OK OK OK..where is Raymond? It is on the Willapa Bay, near the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean...a MAJOR logging community

WILLAPA BAY OYSTER COMPANY...These trucks are loaded with "empty" Oyster shells destined to serve a great number of purposes all around the world. Three such trailer-loads leave this factory every day...

WILLAPA BAY OYSTE COMPANY OYSTER SHUCKING PRODUCTION LINE. There are four such lines in this factory, each line with 28 employees on each line,

shucking live oysters from their shells...loaded into 5-gallon buckets for markets around the world.

Each DAY, 3,000 bushels (or 1,500 gallons) of Oyster meat is harvested on these lines.

3,000 bushels equates to 100,000 ounds of Oysters-In_the_shell.

Three truck loads of empty shells are "exported" each day, each truck carrying 35,000 pounds of shells...

Shells serve a surprising number of purposes...

FIVE GALLON BUCKETS OF OYESTER...REMOVED "LIVE" FROM THEIR SHELLS IN THE PAST HALF HOUR OR SO. A LAYER OF ICE IS PLACED ON TOP OF EACH BUCKET...A LID IS ADDED, AND THE MEAT IS SHIPPED AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS IS A "SLOUGH". IN THE FLAT WILLAPA BAY AREA, VAST EXPANSES OF LAND ARE COVERED BY MEANDERING WATERWAYS...FULL AT HIGH TIDE...OFTEN DRY AT LOW TIDE...A PARADISE FOR UNCOUNTED BIRDS...A HAVEN FOR SHELL FISH.

A HERD OF WILD ELK...AFTER WALKING FULLY AROUND THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS WITHOUT SEEING EVEN A ITTSY BITTSY MOUSE, THIS MORNING, A HERD OF AT LEAST 75 ELK STAND WATCHING ME WALK NOT 200 METERS FROM THEM.

TAKING MY CAMERA OUT OF MY POCKET SPOOKED THE ELK AND THEY STARTED TO MOVE TO A STAND OF FIR TREES LINING THIS FIELD.

THEIR BARE BUTTS REMIND ME OF BABBONS...SEEN IN THE WILD, AN ELK CAN NEVER BE CONFUSED WITH ANY OTHER ANIMAL.

FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE HUNTED ELK FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL NEARLY EVERY TIME...MY DAD, ON THE OTHER HAND, HUNTED ELK ALL HIS LIFE AND NEVER EVEN SAW A SINGLE ANIMAL.

IN THE SAME FIELD AS THE ELK WAS THIS SMALL HERD OF ANGUS BEEF

THERE WERE 13 ANGUS IN THIS SMALL HERD...THEY HAD 4 YEARLING CALFS...ALL MALE.

ANOTHER "CLAY" BANK. CLAY IS EVERYWHERE IN SOUTH-WEST WASHINGTON STATE

THI IS AN "OYSTER" BOAT. THIS CRAFT IS USED TO "PLANT" NEW OYSTER STOCK INTO THE BOTTOM OF WILLAPA BAY...AND USED TO RECOVER MATURE OYSTERS.

IN WATERS 8 - 12 FEET DEEP, A RAKE TYPE DEVICE IS USED TO "DIG" THE MATURE OYSTERS FROM 3 - 6 INCHES BELOW THE MUD/SANDY BOTTOM, LIFT THEM TO THE SURFACE AND DEPOSIT THEM ON THE FLAT DECK OF THE BOAT. ABOUT 100,000 POUNDS OF IN-THE-SHELL OYSTERS ARE RECOVERED EACH DAY BY WILLALPA BAY OYSTERS.

A BIT OF HISTORY: SOME 80 YEARS AGO, USA OYSTERS CONTRACTED A DISEASE WHICH ESSENTIALLY WIPED OUT NATIVE OYSTERS. OYSTER STOCK WAS IMPORTED FROM JAPAN - MAINLY BAY OF TOKYO - THIS STOCK HAS BEEN USED TO RECOVER THE USA OYSTER INDUSTRY...EVEN JAPAN NOW BUYS "SEED" STOCK FROM THE USA.

"SEED" STOCK IS CREATED UNDER STRICTLY CONTROLLED CONDITIONS.=:

1. LIVE MATURE OYSTERS ARE USED AS "MOMMY & DADDY"...OYSTER HAVE NO "SEX". ANY OYSTER CAN PRODUCE "SEED" AT ANY TIME THEY FIND THE RIGHT CONDITIONS.

2. RIGHT CONDITIONS: PROPER WATER TEMPERATURE AND PROPER AMOUNT OF FOOD IN THE WATER. "FOOD" IS "PLANKTON". "PLANKTON" IS MICROSCOPIC ORGANISMS WHICH PORPOPAGATE THE SALT WATERS OF THE ENTIRE EARTH...THE LARGEST ANIMALS ON EARTH - WHALES - EAT PRIMARILY "PLANKTON"...JUST AS DO OYSTERS AND MOST OTHER SEA CREATURES.

KILL THE "PLANKTON"...ALL SEA CREATURES WILL MOST LIKELY PERISH !!!

3. LIVE "SEED" OYSTERS ARE PUT IN A TUB OF PROPER WATER/PLANKTON MIX AND THEY IMMEDIATELY GIVE OFF THE NEW MICROSCOPIC OYSTER LIFE FORMS.

4. THE "WATER" IS FILTERED THROUGH MICROSCOPIC SCREENS WHICH TRAP THE NEW OYSTER "SEEDS".

5. THE NEW OYSTER "SEEDS" ARE PUT INTO SMALL BOTTLES...ABOUT 1 INCH DIAMETER BY 2 INCHES HIGH. THESE "SEEDS" ARE MIXED INTO A LARGE "VAT"..NOT DISSIMILAR TO A BEER MAKING VAT...WHICH IS ALSO LOADED WITH "EMPTY" OYSTER SHELLS.

6. THE OYSTER "SEED" ATTACHES ITSELF TO A EMPTY OYSTER SHELL AND BEGINS ITS LIFE CYCLE - ABOUT 4 TO 5 YEARS.

7. THE "FERTILIZED" OYSTER SHELLS ARE DEPOSITED IN PRESELECTED SHALLOW SALT WATER BAYS - SUCH AS WILLAPA BAY - WHERE THEY GROW FOR 4 TO 5 YEARS...AT WHICH TIME THEY ARE HARVESTED AND THE CYCLE REPEATS ITSELF.

8. MANY OF THE"FERTILIZED" OYSTER SHELLS ARE SOLD TO OYSTER FARMS THE WORLD OVER - INCLUDING JAPAN.

NOW, I REALIZE THAT MOST OF YOU READERS ALREADY KNOW ALL THAT, ..BUT GIMME A BREAK...I TOOK OUT 30 MINUTES FROM TODAY'S WALK TO LEARN THIS SO I MIGHT SHARE IT WITH YOU "FEW" TO WHOM IT MIGHT BE NEWSY STUFF.

A VERY NICE RANCH HOUSE SITTING ATOP A SMALL HILL OVERLOOKING THE VILLAGE OF BRUCEPORT, WASHINGTON, ON WILLAPA BAY.

WILLAPA BAY, WASHINGTON

ANOTHER SECTION OF THE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS THAT BLEW DOWN SO MANY TREES.

JUST A GROVE OF MATURE TREES...I THOUGHT THE BACK-LIGHT WAS QUITE EFFECTIVE AND BEAUTIFUL...SO, I SHARE IT WITH YOU.

ONE MORE OF THE MANY "MEMORIALS" FOUND ALONG WASHINGTON STATE HIGHWAYS...I LEFT OUR "SAM & ME" CALLING CARD ON THE CROSS

A SHALLOW RIVER NEAR LONG BEACH, WASHINGTON (FORGOT THE NAME)

LONG BREACH, WASHINGTON...ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER, WHICH I PLAN TO CROSS TOMORROW INTO ASTORIA, OREGON.

A REAL LIVE CRANBERRY BOG...JUST OUTSIDE LONG BEACH, WASHINGTON.

Had a bit of a tuff day, folks...

Started walking in the dark and rain at 6:45 am . Walked to SOUTH BEND, WASHINGTON about 5 miles Southon US 101, where I enjoyed the best breakfast in a very long time.

Stopped in at the WILLAPA BAY OYSTER COMPANY, where I was given a guided tour by Nick...did not want his pic taken...See narrative with above pics.

Continued walking another 6 miles to the turnoff to BRUCEPORT, WASHINGTON, where I turned around and walked BACK to Raymond, Washington, where SPIA was parked overnight next to McDonalds Mall on the SouthWest side.

Then drove a few miles beyond Bruceport - see pic of the beautiful house on the hill - where I walked for another 3 hours to and from SPIA. Moved SPIA two more times, each time walking wicked hills along Willapa Bay, finally arriving at the intersection to ASTORIA, OREGON (21 miles) and LONG BEACH, WASHINGTON (16 miles in the opposite direction).

Chose Long Beach. SPIA is now safe in a mid-town RV Park - complete with water, power, "dump" facilities, and A SHOWER ...boy, do I need a shower ! ! !

In the morning, will drive to ILWACO at the mouth of the Columbia River on the Pacific Ocean...then to Lewis and Clark Camp...then phone David for our meeting to visit a real logging operation.

If there is time, will walk a few miles too. Probably will NOT have time to cross the Bridge over the Columbia River until the next day, Wednesday, February 02...then we head down the Oregon Coast...the most beautiful coast line in the world - says ME -.

DAILY RECAP: Walked 32 miles...count 16 miles

SEE YOUR IMPACT.ORG: Credit 16 miles @ $0.02 = $0.32 for the day.

Both my feet are quite sore this evening. The short but steep hills of the past 3 days have been telling. They are banked steeply on the curves...this results in one foot touching the ground 2 or so inches below the opposite foot. This puts side loading on the foot, the ankles, the knees, and the hip.

These side loads result in straining the muscles and tendons which after a number of hours, tend to become stretched and owie. Must take care not to end up damaging something...

Sunday, January 30, 2011

LITTLE WHITE LINE: Ever 3wonder what it is? Well, it shows where a pipe goes under the roadway...such as a stream of water...an "ANGLED" white line means the pipe crosses at the angle of the white line.

FOG AND FIRE: Raining Cats and Dogs...looks ever-so-much like the trees are sending up smoke...actually, the "WARM" earth is sending air up into the colder clouds...much like steam rising from a teakettle

DAVID and SCOTT. Met these two roughnecks walking up a logging road. Just had to chat with them, so ran to catch up. Both are Loggers or Log Truckers. Scott, on the right, has seen Me walking many times from Forks, Washington as he drove his logging truck up and down US 101 that past week and a half...he lives in "Cozzi" (COSOMOPOLIS, WASHINGTON). David, on the other hand, lives in MC CLEARY, WASHINGTON and is currently working on a honest-to-goodness logging operation down by the Columbia River Bridge to ASTORIA, OREGON. Gave me his cell phone and will arrange for me to get some real-life pics of a logging operation...in three to four days when we get to the Columbia River.

GOODBYE DAVE...GOODBYE SCOTT

HILLY COUNTRY SOUTH OF THE TRI-CITIES (HOQUIAM - ABERDEEN - COSMOPOLIS)

Had to work today...lots of steep hills.

A WEE STREAM CUTTING A PATH THROUGH CLAY SOIL

STOPPED FOR BREAKFAST - 2 eggs, Home Fries and Coffee. John, the Client (and why not); Diane, the Waitress...John hearlds from Norway...Diane until one year ago, from Minnisota.

I, too, hail from Norway...have been then, as has John...He from Larvick...Me, from The Northern Coast (Aalusund) and Oslo...Thor Hyerdahl (KON TIKI) was a Cousin from my Wife # 1, Joanie, who has now passed away.

Diane misses the Minnisota fish. The Pacific Northwest has SALMON or TROUT...SALMON or TROUT...SALMON or TROUT...Minnissota has CATFISH, WALLEYE, PIKE, and a half dozen other species...sHE IS JUST hOMESICK..

Asked if I could take their Pic for uploading...Sure thing...

Diane...funny...my Husband is named John...

John...funny, my wife WAS named Diane.

So, the hugged and posed...hope all turns out OK.

THE RV OFFICE...DAVD, THE OWNER'S SON, DID NOT ANSWER WHEN I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR...Says David...did you ring the bell???...What bell says I...

David puts SPIA up for the night anyway. Returning from my walk, I go to the office to say Thankyo and Goodbye...Still, NO BELL.

I turn to leave and bump into that pedestal...looking up: THE BELL with a note:

Please Pull By Rope...It's fun...It's LOUD...I will come running....

Jeeeeze....

I Pulled the rope...the Bell rang...LOUD

US 101 SOUTH OF COSMOPOLIS...lots if big cracks in the pavement...imminent road failure.

THE WEATHER IS CHANGING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. ARRIVING IN BELLINGHAM IN 1987, FEBRUARY OFTEN HAD WINDS OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST AT OVER 100 MPH IN FEBRUARY...Nowadays, these strong winds come earlier and earlier...this year in Noveber.

EACH MAJOR HOLIDAY IS DECORATED IN APPROPRIATE "THEME".. After Valentine Day, everything comes down and up goes ST. PATRICK DAY decoractions...to be followed by MOTHER'S DAY, ETC ETC. \\

AT NIGHT, LIGHTS EMPHASIZE THE BEAUTY OF JIM AND HIS WIFE'S EFFORTS.

THEY LIVE ON US 101 ABOUT 8 MILES NORTH OF RAYMOND, WASHINGTON.

RAYMOND, WASHINGTON HAS LOTS OF CHURCHS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE...IS THAT GOOD??? OR MAYBE THEY JUST CANNOT MAKE UP THEIR MIND.

EVERYBODY OUT IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS CHOPS LOTS OF WOOD.

ONCE HEAR TELL THE INDIANS KNOW EXACTLY HOW SEVERE THE WINTER WILL BE BY OBSERVING HOW MUCH WOOD THE WHITE MAN CHOPS.

RAYMOND IS DEFINITELY A "LOGGER'S TOWN"...WHY THEN IS THE ENTIRE TOWN DECORATED WITH STEEL-PLATE ART???

THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR PETS IN RAYMOND, WASHINGTON

WHEN BIG BOULDERS ARE SCARCE...WHY NOT BAG UP WEE ROCKS INTO CHICKEN WIRE TO MAKE A ROCK WALL??? SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO ME.

ROBERT IS A MAN OF TWO TRUCKSC...THIS BLUE ONE...AND THE RED ONE BELOW

ROBERT PREFERS THIS RED TRUCK...MOST

hank you, Robert for ALL you have done for me and my walk.

Into the hills...but out of the rain: MAYBE.

Spent a restful night in Dvid's ARCTIC RV...hooked up to electricity..SPIA liked that !

Started by walking BACK to "Cozzie" - as Locals call COSMOPOLIS, WASHINGTON - 7 miles away. US 101 climbed a prodigious steep hill. At the top I came across two gentlemen walking kup a logging access road...I took out after them and caught up to David and Scott. Chtted a few minutes...See Pic...David then gave me a ride for a mile or so half-way DOWN the Hill towards Cozzie. I walked the rest of the way and return to SPIA.

Stopped in at Dian's Restaurant for Eggs Home Fries , Rye Toast, and Coffee. Met John, who has quite a bit of heritage similar to mine...see pic...have a feeling he and I may meet up again somewhere sometime.

Arriving at SPIA, tried to say thankyou and goodbye to David at Arctic RV...rang his really BIG bell - which deserved to be on the Bridge of the QE II...somehow missed him, but left my thanks at the Arctic Pub, which his Dad also ownes...Actualljy David's Dad moved - beinging along wee David - from BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON in 1980...bought the Pub...and in response to many requests..."where is the nearest RV"...they cleared property adjoining the Pub and opened up their own RV...David said he spend agood part of his younger years runing a roto-tiller through the woods clearing RV Spaces...that, folks, is creativity.

Drove South on US 101 a couple miles, parked and walked each direction for 30 minutes - up and down VERY steep hills in a constant COLD drizzle. Repeated this maneuver 4 times crossing those hills to Raymond. Walking back North on WA Hwy 105 (towards WESTPORT, WASHINGTON), met Robert, a handsome - sure lots of young handsome men out this way...anyne listening ??...young logging truck driver. We chatted a few minutes, met some of his friends driving (who stopped to chat). A while later, walking back to SPIA in the rain, up pull Robert...hop in, he says...and gives me a ride into Town...Thanks Robert.

I walked around town a bit...drove to a South Side Store complex...filled up with gas and asked if the attendent could suggest a place to park SPIA for the night...Yes, says he, pointing...right under that flood light - which happened to be in the Supermarket Parking Lot.

So here we (SPIA, SAM & ME are for the night.

Lost Verizon access a few hours ago and was concerned I lost two hours upload of pics and comments...went to sleep until 11:00 pm...could not stand the tension any longer...it is raining hard again...got up, dressed, cranked up the Mini Computer, and thank goodness, was able to "save" my work before shutdown...now, have also completed my narrative for the day...except:

DAILY UP DATE: Walked 28 miles, plus the mile or so ride David gave , = 20 miles made good.

SEE YOUR IMPACT.ORG: Credit 20 miles @ $0.02 per mile = $0.40 for the day.

Tomorrow morning will walk South on US 101. Robert tells me the highway South is far better than the portion back to Cozzi...If not raining too hard, may take SAM out for a spin...just to keep The Discovery Channel folks happy.

Loking forward to reaching the Columbia River to contact David for our planned visit to an actual logging site...thanks, David, for the Invite.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

NORTH JETTY POUNDED BY WAVES. This is the only thing keeping massive Pacific Ocean Waves from coming onto Ocean Shore Sand Spit and it hundreds of multi-million dollar homes.

HOMES SUCH AS THIS ONE SITTING ONLY 50 METERS FROM THE OPEN OCEAN AND ABOUT 15 FEET ABOVE MEAN HIGH TIDE

MASSIVE BOULDERS FORMING THE NORTH JETTY

MULTI UNIT CONDO BUILDINGS LINE THE BEACH FOR 5 MILES...THE JETTY DOES NOT REACH THIS FAR NORTH...THESE STRUCTURES ARE ONLY 50 METERS INLAND AND ABOUT 15 FEET ABOVE THE PACIFIC OCEAN BEACHES.

HOMES / CONDOS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE JETTY...KINDA FRIGHTENING TO ME

ONE SAND DUNE SITS BETWEEN THIS STRUCTURE AND THE OPEN PACIFIC OCEAN

EVEN SEAGULLS DON'T FLY IN THIS WEATHER...RAINING LIKE CRAZY

SPIA IS 100 FEET BEHIND THE JETTY...NICE HOMES...BUT ! ! !

THIS IS THE BEACH NOT 300 FEET FROM THE PIC WITH SPIA ABOVE.

BRIDGE ON WA HWY 109 FROM OCEAN SHORES TO HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON

RIVER LOG JAM...

A VERY LARGE TREE ... CUT DOWN...AND LEFT...IT IS AN OLD CUT...PROBABLY A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT TREE HAS LAIN THERE. IT IS ON INDIAN RESERVATION LAND

MANY TOO MANY OF THESE MEMORIALS LINE OUR HIGHWAYS...MOSTLY YOUNG AND MOSTLY GIRLS

A RIVER ESTUARY...NEXT TO LYTLE'S OYSTER ...THAT IS THEIR OYSTER BARGE TIED UP TO THE DOCK

LYTLE OYSTER SHACK...ABOUT 8 MILES NORTH OF HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON ON HWY 109

LYTLE OYSTER SHACK SALES AREA...SUPER CLEAN AND YUMMY CRAB, STURGEON, SALMON, CLAMS, OYSTERS, AND A FEW OTHER TASTY CRITTERS...Thankyou for the Smoked Oyster Samples...WOW, what a flavor

HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON...A BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN, AND WELL PLANNED COMMUNITY ON THE EAST SHORE OF GRAYS HARBOR.

CHURCH IN HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON

SUPER CLEAN HOMES AND STREETS IN HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON

HOQUIAM RIVER...LOOKING NORTH WEST (UPSTREAM) INTO TOWN

HOQUIAM RIVER DRAW BRIDGE...BOTH SIDES OF THIS BRIDGE RISE UP ALLOWING TALL BOATS TO SAIL UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE.

HOQUIAM RIVER RAILROAD BRIDGE...THIS BRIDGE "PIVOTS" (SHOWN OPEN) WHEN TRAINS NEED TO CROSS THE RIVER

SAM AT THE ARTIC RV AND TAVERN, 6 MILES SOUTH OF ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON. DAVID, SON OF THE OWNER, WAS VERY KIND TO ALLOW SPIA A "SPOT" FOR THE NIGHT...Thank you, David

THE "75" MEANS IT IS 75 MILES TO THE BEGINNING OF US 101 IN WASHINGTON STATE...WHICH IS THE COLUMBIA RIVER...ASTORIA, OREGON SITS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE COLUMBIA...The site of Lewis and Clark arrival (with Sacajawea) at the Pacific Ocean. SPIA, SAM and ME should arrive at Lewis and Clarks Fort in three or four days.

Last Summer, SAM & ME walked a good part of the Lewis and Clark route along the Snake River in Oregon and Idaho on our way to Oklahoma City.

Woke at 4:00 am.

Poked my head outside my room # 101 at the SANDS...raining and very foggy...but not cold. Went back to sleep until 5:30 am. Went out to SPIA to make oatmeal and tea...then see who was peeking at my Facebook Blog...

Lots of "lookers", but no comments. Each one of these Blogs take about 4 hours to upload all the pics and narrate the activities of the day...the Mini has battery for about 40 minutes...If no outside power, must run SPIA's motor to generate electricity from the Cigarette Lighter...takes about 2 gallons of gas for one Blog session...I'm a slow thinker and try to be logical, truthful, and entertaining. Make at least 3 drafts before I upload the narrative.

Have at least 50 pics each day...takes quite a session to choose the 10 or 15 pics to upload with each Blog...

Not complaining mind you...I am having an absolute ball and look forward to every evening when this Blog is created

About 6:30 am, walked to a local early-morning Pub and chit chatted for a bit...then ordered one egg - scrambled - one flapjack - one sausage - one coffee @ $3.75 plus $1.50 for the coffee (a rip off). By then, it was light enough to take some photographs - even though it was quite foggy and raining hard.

Drove the 5 miles or so to the North Jetty of Gray's Harbor, which is the South end of the Ocean Shores Sand Bank...that is exactly what it is...a 2-miles wide by 5 mile long sand spit forming the NorthEast corner o Gray's Harbor. A gigantic rock jetty has been constructed on both the North Shore (Ocean Shores) and the South Shore (Westport) to control the massive waves coming in from the open Pacific Ocean...

I'm sure that everyone knows it is 10,000 miles from the Washington Coast before another large land mass is encountred - Japan - China - Philipinnes - (Islands do not count), so there is plenty of space for quite large waves to be generated by the prevailing SouthWest winds.

These waves crash into the rock jetties protecting the multi-million dollar Condos and elegant private homes lining the Ocean Shores Sand Dunes...no more than 50 meters from the breaking waves upon a very flat beach.

In all honesty, it makes me nervous to think to live along this sandy shore - which sits maximum 20 feet above sea level.

Verizon connection is acting up...may lose my narrative...OK...there, I have saved it...and now to continue...

Took a number of pics of homes, hotels, condos, and the jetty - which I walked out on to the water trying to get pics of the waves crashing into the jetty below my feet.

Then drove SPIA out US 109 seven miles from Ocean Shores and parked. Walked BACK to Ocean Shores and returned 3 miles toward SPIA when the nice folks Dennis and Laura (of Hoquiam, Washington) stopped to give me a ride...they drove me back to SPIA and five miles beyond within 1 mile of the city limits of HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON.

I walked back to SPIA, stopping along the way at LYTLE SEAFOODS OYSTER SHACK. I bought a pack of Smoked Salmon @ $6.00 and accepted a sampling of Smoked Oysters in a Zip-Lock Bag. Chomped one Smoked Oyster walking back to SPIA..when I arrived at SPIA, 3 miles later, the fantastic flavor of that Oyster still lingered in my mouth...WOW...excellent. Have three more which I am saving in the fridge for tomorrow and a couple tomorrows after that.

Then drove SPIA into Hoquiam and parked. Walked BACK 2 miles and return into town. Hoquiam and ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON are effectively Twin Cities, separated by a Bridge over the Chehalis River - which is full of BIG Sturgeon...I know because my Brother In Law, Jim, of ELMA, WASHINGTON, fished the Chehalis River for them Sturgeon...Yum.

I then pulled SPIA into a Oil and Lube (Pennsylvania Oil) place to get her serviced, filled the gas tank, stopped at Safeway to buy some canned goods and brown sugar.

Then drove SPIA South on US 101 to a Pub and RV place about 5 miles out. Took a RV spot for the night ($8.00). In the morning, will walk BACK to Aberdeen - must descent and reclimb a 3-mile long hill -. then will walk another 5 miles South on US 101 and return to SPIA, before driving South to RAYMOND, WASHINGTON.

Forecast is for possible SNOW. Temperatures will plunge to the low 30's and high 20's.

DAILY UPDATE: walked 17 miles today

SEE YOUR IMPACT: Credit 17 miles @ $0.02 = $0.34 for the day.

RECAP: THROUGH TODAY, HAVE WALKED FROM THE PEACE ARCH TO HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON A TOTAL OF: 302 MILES.

This is only the miles walked that can be counted.

TOTAL miles walked, including "double" walking is: 442 miles. No wonder I got some sore muscles...